HC Deb 19 October 1999 vol 336 cc531-2W
Mr. Boswell

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received about the current acceptability of individual learning account credits to higher education institutions; and what advice he has circulated to them. [94732]

Mr. Wicks

The Department has not received any representation about the current acceptability of individual learning account credits to higher education institutions, nor have we issued specific advice to higher education institutions on the acceptability of credits.

Mr. Boswell

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many individual learning accounts are currently open; and what is their cumulative value. [94734]

Mr. Wicks

By the end of August 22,530 individual learning accounts were opened through Training and Enterprise Councils (TECs). The cumulative contribution from TEC resources to these accounts is £734,277. These are the first pilot accounts. The national framework will be rolled out as planned in 2000. Under that we expect to see a rapid build-up towards the target of 1 million accounts in 2002.